West Hartford Rape Suspect Returned To Connecticut

Waived Extradition In Springfield Court

WEST HARTFORD — — A man suspected of pulling a woman off a busy road and raping her last month was in the custody of local police Wednesday, a day after he was captured in Massachusetts, police said.

Eddie Monroig-Rosario waived extradition during his arraignment Wednesday in Springfield District Court and was brought to Connecticut soon afterward.

He arrived at the West Hartford Police Department in the afternoon and shielded his face as he was brought from the back of an unmarked police car, handcuffed and barefoot, into the building.

Sgt. Frank Fallon said Monroig-Rosario is being charged with first-degree sexual assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint in connection with the Oct. 27 assault.

"I'm sure the community at large is going to be relieved that the suspect is in custody," Fallon said. "It's not a common case in any way, shape or form."

A judge set Monroig-Rosario's bail at $2.5 million. He is to be arraigned Thursday at Superior Court in Hartford.

Fallon said Monroig-Rosario has spoken with detectives, but he did not elaborate on the nature of the conversation.

Attorney John Rasmussen, who represented Monroig-Rosario during his court appearance in Springfield, said Monroig-Rosario has relatives in Puerto Rico and Massachusetts.

He said Monroig-Rosario acknowledged that he was the man being sought by West Hartford police and was willing to go to Connecticut to face those charges.

Monroig-Rosario was arrested Tuesday morning less than half a mile from a homeless shelter where he had been staying. An employee at the shelter recognized him in news reports and called the police.

He was charged with resisting arrest because he allegedly struggled with the officers who found him. He was also served with outstanding arrest warrants from Massachusetts charging him with traffic violations and was charged as a fugitive from justice.

The Massachusetts charges were dropped after his arraignment.

The victim told police she was jogging on Fern Street, a busy, well-traveled road, when she was attacked by a man who dragged her into the bushes in the front yard of 311 Fern St.

West Hartford police credited the U.S. marshals, Hartford police and Springfield police with helping track down Monroig-Rosario.